ben ferguson in dallas. and here with me mark lamond hill. are republicans responding to this aumf proposal? and i want to ask you about what leon panetta just said. i think that may even be more important. the fact that washington dysfunction could be our greatest national security threat. if we can't pass a war authorization for a war that really started five or six months ago, what exactly are members of congress doing here in washington? >> well i think one of the biggest concerns is this. you have a lot of people that really are looking at this and they're saying it's pretty vague. so what is he actually asking for us to do? is he saying we're going to war? are we going to limited war? are we going to just keep doing what we're doing right now? and so most of the republicans that i've spoken with their biggest concern is almost this is not doing enough to actually take on isis. and it may look like we're trying to do something instead of actually doing it. so i think there's plenty of support in congress. but i think the president has to

show" ben ferguson.we just showed who the public would blame if the department of homeland security were to shut down and they would blame the gop in congress more than they would blame the president. 53% to 30%. ben, why then would republicans want to do something self-destructive? >> i don't think they look at it as self-destructive think they look at it as the president of the united states has overreached his powers a judge decided with more than 26 states saying executive action on amnesty for illegal immigrants the president probably overstepped his bounds. not only the american people are saying it a judge has backed them up. it's easy to hate on congress it's a local issue. if you're a congressman or a senator, can you defend this vote or this action? and the answer is many of them believe yes, they can. because they were sent to washington to do exactly this. to take the president on on something he overreached his powers on. something that the president even said he couldn't do multiple times,

is the director of the national jourmg and cnn political analyst and joined by cnn commentator ben fergusonlenson on the phone. you write in the washington post dana this is not just about, quote, your word, stupid remarks. listen to what was wisconsin governor walker's said first remaining silent on the same stage as giuliani when it went down. in is what he said when in washington yesterday on cnbc. >> the bottom line is i can only speak for myself, and myself and i think america's a great exceptional country, and people across the spectrum, republican and democrat alike believe that. >> okay. we know he was on cnbc, but our cnn robert caught up with him saying i, too, love america. we can't see you, but would love to hear you. why in your view does that backfire particularly for scott walker? >> caller: well it does not seem to be playing very well for him, and, you know look i think it's fair to say who really cares what rudy giuliani says. he's not running for anything. he's a private citizen now who is trying to make waves at punditings. nobody should be fired up about that and it's a

ferguson, missouri. he is the candidate and the award is the most prestigious in the country. we gave the benee editor of the year award and then on a number of other occasions as well. his passing this past year saddened and diminished us all. here is a brief video about his work ♪♪ >> ferguson was unknown to many people previous to last august the ninth. so when our staff responded to the shooting, we found that the story was going to be huge for the country and also important for us here. >> the protesters than likely banded, we have tension that has always been here and now we have that tension that it's out in the open. >> we had the daily uncertainty of how this will we whether it was an afternoon or evening, it would turn into a protest late at night. >> over the coming months and weeks working night and day in difficult circumstances surviving teargas and assaults from looters and people were criticizing things, but nevertheless we were boarding outstanding things. >> none of the teargas canisters are not being launched in the buildings are not being burned anymore, the issues of dist

ferguson missouri. bradlee the oldest and most for an editor in the country. benoined us for the first night we gave the award and on a number of locations as well. his passing this past year saddens and diminishes us all. here's a brief video about gilbert bailon's work. [video clip] >> ferguson, missouri was unknown to most people previous to last august. when our staff responded to the shooting, we found the story was going to be huge for the country but also very important for us here. >> the protests have been like a band-aid being ripped off. tensions that have always been here and now they are out in the open. ♪ >> you had the daily uncertainty of how big they live news events will be, whether a rally would turn into a violent encounter with police late at night. >> our staff in the coming months and weeks were working in difficult circumstances and surviving teargas and of all from looters. and people were criticizing our reporting. we did outstanding journalism. -- assault from looters. >> now that it be teargas canisters are not been launched and buildin